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Therese “Teri” DeNeal Wallace, 81, of Oak Point, TX passed away Monday, December 2, 2024, in Oak Point, TX. Teri was born on April 1, 1943, in Corvallis, OR to Clarence and Delia (Massey) DeNeal. She married Doug Wallace September 11, 1962, in Corvallis, OR. Teri graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas, TX in 1982. She earned a master’s degree in human development in the department of psychology. She was at the top of her class and graduated Suma Cum Laude. Her primary area of study was that of aging. While in school she also visited several nursing homes and volunteered as an ombudsman to help the elderly. Teri traveled with her husband to trade shows and sold jewelry and mineral specimens. She enjoyed traveling and went to Mexico several times to visit ancient Mayan ruins. She also went to the south of France to visit Roman ruins and aqueducts. In France she and her husband stayed at a B&B in the area where her French Huguenot ancestors came from. Teri became a Tibetan Buddhist. Several times she traveled to a monastery in Woodstock, NY. She enjoyed classes in Buddhist philosophy taught by Kempo Carther. She was fascinated by the story of how Kempo walked out of Tibet when the communists took over and eventually started the monastery in New York. Teri also taught Buddhist philosophy to a small group of her friends at her home in North Dallas. She enjoyed talking about the Buddhist concept of compassion and love for all living beings. Teri had many hobbies that included driving sports cars and muscle cars. She once owned a Fiat and a Pontiac Firebird convertible. In the years before she passed, she drove a Dodge Charger. She was very artistic and enjoyed painting, playing the piano, and designing jewelry. The field museum in Chicago, IL purchased some of her jewelry for display. Teri enjoyed fine wines and Jack Daniels whiskey. She and her husband would often sit on their deck drinking wine listening to classical and country music while enjoying the sunsets over Lake Lewisville. Teri’s greatest accomplishments in life were her family. Her oldest grandson, Douglas, is an emergency room doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Not only is he an ER doctor, but he also teaches classes at the University. He brings his students to the ER to learn about hands on emergency medicine. Teri is survived by her husband of 61 years, Doug; son, Matthew Douglas Wallace of Hot Springs, AR; four grandchildren, Douglas, Thomas, Hunter, and Greg; nephew, Gary Petersen of Walla Walla, WA; niece, Gail Petersen of Portland, OR; and her cat, Tuffy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Delia; and sister, Barbara Petersen. On-line condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Teri DeNeal Wallace

April 1, 1943 - December 2, 2024